What Twitter is like to me

(Update, Jun 24, 2009: if you are in Victoria, BC, you may be interested in the list of Victoria, BC Twitterers.)

OK. So we have heard the words “Twitter” and “tweeting” and “tweets” etc bantered about. What is this Twitter thing anyway? Some call it micro-blogging. A really smart friend of mine has called it “one to many Instant Messaging”.

I see Twitter as more of an office water cooler.

It sits over in the corner down the row from your cubicle (which, of course, is outfitted with cool gadgets from ThinkGeek.com and troll dolls). People gather there as they need a drink of water and start up random conversations, or join in existing ones. You see that Sally is there; you don’t necessarily agree with or see value in what Sally has to say, so you mentally filter her out. However, Brad is over there, and he has some good insights, so you perk up your ears and take note of what he is saying. Mary strides on over and starts talking; you like her too, she always finds cool stuff to do. You get to eavesdrop in on their thoughts and conversations, but they know this; this is the rule of the Watercooler. They want you to hear it.

Sometimes Scott gets too loud and starts bragging about his weekend exploits. Sometimes Sally does nothing but whine. But, sometimes you overhear a great nugget of information that sparks an A-HA! moment, then wander over there yourself to join in and get feedback.

Some people hang around all day, but somehow things still get done. You can’t see how Theresa does it because… wow…. 10 tweets an hour AND 3 blog posts??? Others just breeze by on their way to the copy machine, take stock of what’s being said, then toodle on off again. Curtis really is in tune with the project you’re working on, so you invite him back to your cubicle to brainstorm.

This is twitter for me. Nothing formal, one central place to go get a refreshing drink and it’s never the same group so the dynamics are fascinating to watch.

As long as they don’t start putting booze in what we’re drinking, it’s all gonna be just fine ;)